Actuating mechanism for a manually operated electric switch



United States Patent 3,329,783 ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR A MANUALLY OPERATED ELECTRIC SWITCH Jordan F. Puetz, Adolfo M. Perez, and Don J. Arneberg, Milwaukee, Wis., assignors to Square D Company, Park Ridge, 11]., a corporation of Michigan Filed June 7, 1966, Ser. No. 555,755 7 Claims. (Cl. 200-67) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The disclosure pertains to the actuating mechanism for a multiphase manually operated electric switch which provides the sensation that the switch is of the toggle operating variety when the switch is actuated and includes an arrangement whereby a projection of the operating handle for the switch moves across an inclined surface on a pivoted lever that engages a movable contact carrier to assure separation of the switch contacts in event the contacts are welded together.

This invention relates to electric switches and more particularly, to an improved manually operated multipole switch having its operating parts arranged to ensure a positive and continued interruption of all of the circuits controlled by the switch when the switch is operated to a circuit opening position.

An object of the present invention is to provide a multi pole switch with a means to ensure positive opening of the contacts of the switch and a sensation that the switch is of the toggle acting type when the switch operating handle is manually operated to a circuit opening position.

An additional object is to provide a multipole manually operated switch with a means to ensure positive and continued opening of all of the contacts of the switch and a sensation that the switch is of the toggle acting type when the operating handle of the switch is operated to a circuit opening position wherein a centerline through the pivot for the operating handle and a lever that is positively rotated by the handle extends along an axis substantially aligned with the axis of movement of a movable contact carrier for the switch and to cause the operating handle to move to a full ON position with a toggle action after the handle is moved through a central position.

Further objects and features of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the specification and appended drawing illustrating certain preferred embodiments in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an electric switch incorporating the features of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view taken in the direction of the arrows 2 in FIG. 1 with a housing part of. the switch removed to illustrate the internal components of the switch when the switch is in a circuit making condition and with certain components shown in section to illustrate details.

of construction of the switch.

FIG. 3 is a view of the switch components as in FIG. 2 when the switch is in a circuit opening condition and with certain components of the switch broken away to illustrate details of construction of the switch.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view showing certain components of the switch in FIG. 2.

-An electric switch 10, shown in the drawings, comprises a housing or base 11 formed of molded insulating material to have two mating housing parts 12 and 13 which provides an internal cavity 15 when the parts 12 and 13 are assembled. A metal mounting plate 16 is mounted on the housing 11 by a hook 17 and an ear 18 by the assembled parts 12 and 13. The hook 17 and the car 18 each extend downwardly from the plate 16 so the hook 17 will embrace a suitably located lug 19, formed on the housing part 12, while the ear 18 engages a boss 20. The ear 18 and the boss 20 each have openings 21 aligned with openings'formed in the parts 12 and 13 to receive securing rivets or screws, not shown, for securing the parts 12 and 13 together. Additionally, the ear 18 has a downwardly inclined portion 22 engaging a complementary surface on the boss 20. The plate 16' has a central opening, generally rectangular in shape, providing a passage for an operating handle 24 of the switch 10 The handle 24 has a pair of oppositely extending pivot bearings, indicated as 25 in FIG. 3, received in suitable openings in the parts 12 and 13 for the purpose of pivotally mounting the handle 24 in the housing 11. Surrounding the pivot bearings 25 are circular bosses 26 each presenting a fiat surface positioned adjacent a similar flat surface on the parts 12 and 13 for guiding the handle 24 in its rotation in the housing 11. The handle 24 is also provided with outer curved surfaces 28 shaped to close the opening in the plate 16 while permitting the handle 24 to rotate in the housing 11. As most clearly shown in FIG. 2, outwardly extending from a bottom edge 29 of the handle 24 and projecting from the outer surface 28, is a stop 30, the top surface of which is engageable with the bottom surface of the metal mounting plate 16 for the purpose of limiting the rotation of the handle 24 in a clockwise direction in FIG. 2. The handle 24 has an internal cavity 31 extending from the bottom edge 29 shaped to provide a securement for a member 32. The member 32 has a portion 33 having projections thereon received in complementary grooves in the handle 24 to anchor the member 32 relative to the lever 24. The member 32 also has a downwardly curved portion 34 extending below the bottom surface 29 presenting a downwardly facing notch 35 in general alignment with a centerline extending through the pivots 25 and a portion 36 of the handle 24 extending outwardly from surfaces 28 above the plate 16. The notch 35 provides a seat for one end of a spring 37 which has its other end positioned on a hook 38 extending from an inclined lever arm 39 on a toggle lever 40.

The toggle lever 40' has a pair of parallel arms 41 extending in the same direction and at an angle to the arm 39 to free ends from which pivots 42 extend. The pivots 42 are received in suitable bores in the housing parts 12 and 13 to guide the rotation of the lever 40 in the housing 11. The arms 41 are spaced to provide a notch wherein the spring 37 may move with clearance during the movement of the lever 24 and the lever 40. Similarly, the cavity 31 in the lever 24 provides clearance to accommodate the movement of the arm 39. Protruding from a junction of the arms 39* and 41 is an arm having a knob 45 at its free end. The knob 45 has an upper surface arranged to engage a bottom surface of a stop 46 formed on the housing parts 12 and 13- when the lever 40 is in the position as shown in FIG. 2 and a bottom surface arranged to engage a surface portion on an actuating lever 48 when the lever 41 is positioned as in FIG. 3.

A movable contact carrier 50, preferably formed as a unitary part of a molded insulating material, is guided for movement in the interior of the base 11 by a pair of spaced ribs 51 and 52. The ribs 51 and 52 are formed on the housing parts 12 and 13 to extend vertically from a bottom wall 49 and outwardly from the side walls of the parts 12 and 13 to present edges 53 which are jux-ta posed when the housing par-ts 12 and 13 are assembled. The ribs 51 and 52 thus effectively divide the lower portion of the interior cavity 15 into three vertically extending horizontally spaced cavities indicated by the numerals 54, 55 and 56. The confronting faces of the ribs 51 and 52 on the part 12 are provided with notches 57 and 58 extending vertically from the bottom wall 49 to a free end on the ribs 51 and 52.

The switch is provided with six identical terminal and stationary contact assemblies 68, one of which, as shown in FIG. 4, comprises a generally U-shaped section of conducting metal having a downwardly facing stationary or fixed electrical contact portion 61 on its lower arm and a threaded hole in an upper arm in which a terminal screw 62 operates. The parts 12 and 13 are provided with suitable recesses extending downwardly in the exterior sidewalls of parts 12 and 13 to ledges in the top surface of the parts 12 and 13 whereon the terminal screw 62 portion is positioned. The side walls of the parts 12 and 13 are provided with suitable passages or openings extending from the exterior of the parts 12 and 13 into the respective cavities 54, 55, and 56 so that the electric contact portions 61 are positioned within the cavities 54-56. The passages in the housing 11 are arranged so the contact port-ions 61 are adjacent the interior side walls of parts 12 and 13 to provide three pairs of stationary contacts with each pair being included in one of the cavities 54-56 and including a contact portion 61 carried by the part 12 and a contact portion 61 carried by the part 13 to be spaced above the bottom wall 49.

The movable contact carrier 50 has a pair of spaced vertical notches 70 and 71 arranged to straddle the ribs 51 and 52 to present three spaced movable contact support portions 72, 73 and 74 which are respectively re ceived in the cavities 54-56. Extending outwardly of the contact support portion 73 into notches 70 and 71 are ribs 75 and 76. The ribs 75 and 76 are respectively received in the notches 57 and 58 for the purpose of guiding the carrier 50 along a path of movement vertical to the bottom wall 49. Each of the support portions 72, 73, and 74 has a notch 72a, 73a and 74a in a surface facing the bottom wall 49 of parts 12 and 13. The notches 72a, 73a and 74a each positions a central portion of a movable contact assembly 80. A top wall 77 of the carrier 50 is suitably notched to provide clearance for the passage of the curved portion 34 when the handle 24 is operated. Additionally extending upwardly on opposite side walls of the carrier 50 are ribs 78 which provide rounded surfaces 79 adjacent the top wall 77. The surfaces 79 are engaged by notches 81 on a pair of parallel arm portions 82 of an actuating lever 48.

The movable contact assemblies 80 each are formed of a conducting metal part having a centrally notched portion received by one of the notches 72a, 73a and 74a. Extending outwardly of the portion 84 on opposite side faces of the carrier 50 are free ends 85. Secured on each of the free ends 85 is an upwardly facing contact surface 86. The contact surfaces 86 are arranged to engage the contact portions 61 when the carrier 50 is moved upwardly to a position shown in FIG. 2 and to be disengaged or separated from the surfaces 61 when the carrier 50 is moved downwardly to the position shown in FIG. 3. The carrier 50 and the movable contact assemblies 80 are moved upwardly along a linear path by compression springs 87 each of which has one end engaging the portion 84 and its other end received in a spring seat 88 resting in suitably formed notches in the part 12. The carrier 50 and the movable contact assemblies 80 are moved downwardly by the actuating lever 48 when the handle 24 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction to the position shown in FIG. 3.

The lever 48 has a pair of oppositely extending pivots 90 received in suitably located bores in the parts 12 and 13 to position the lever 48 for rotation in the cavity 15. Extending from the pivots 90 are the pair of parallel arms 82 each having the notches 81 formed in a bottom edge of the arms 82. The notches 81 are sized and located to engage the rounded surfaces 79 for the purpose of moving the carrier 56 downwardly when the lever 48 is rotated clockwise from the position shown in FIG. 2 to the position illustrated by FIG. 3. Formed in the upper edges of each of the arms 82 is a cam surface 91, located between the notches 81 and the pivots 90 and a stop surface 92. The cam surfaces 91 and stop surfaces 92 are engaged by suitable means, such as pins and/ or rollers 93, extending perpendicular from opposite sides of the portion 34.

The foregoing described components of the switch 11 will provide the switch 11 with a simple ON/OFF function, as will now be described, reference being had to FIG. 2 of the drawings. When the switch parts are positioned as shown in FIG. 2, the switch 11 will be in the ON or circuit making position, wherein the movable contact assemblies are in bridging engagement with the pairs of stationary contact assemblies 60 and the handle 24 is in its furthest clockwise position of rotation which is limited by engagement of the stop 30 with the plate 16. When the handle 24 is thus positioned, the line of centers passing through the notch 35 and the hook 38 will be to the left of the pivots 42 so the spring 37 will cause the lever 40 to rotate counterclockwise about its pivots 42 to a position wherein it is limited by the engagement of the knob 45 with the stop 46. When the lever 40 is thus positioned, the springs 87 will force the contact carrier 50 upwardly to a position wherein the contact surfaces 86 and 61 are in engagement. The lever 48 will be positioned by the carrier 50 as the notches 81 rest on the surfaces 79.

The switch is actuated to an OFF position by rotating the handle 24 counterclockwise. The counterclockwise rotation of handle 24 will cause the portion 34 to pass below the pivots 42 so the line of centers passing through the notch 35 and the hook 38 moves to the right of the pivots 42. As the line of centers thus passes through the pivots 42, the spring 37 provides a toggle force which causes the lever 40 to rotate in a clockwise direction and the knob 45 to engage a bar, not shown, interconnecting the free ends of the parallel arms 82 and tend to move the contact carrier 50 downwardly and thereby aid in the separation of the contacts 86 from the contact portions 61 to place the parts of the switch in the circuit opening posit-ion. Additionally, the action of the toggle lever 40 will cause a continued rotation of the handle 24 after the handle 24 is manually moved past a central position so as to cause the handle 24 to operate with an action providing the sensation that the switch 11 is of the toggle operated variety.

The counterclockwise movement of the handle 24 also causes the rollers 93 to engage and rotate upon the cam surfaces 91, thereby causing the lever 48 to rotate about its pivots in a clockwise direction. The space between the arms 82 and the groove in the top wall 77 of the carrier 50 provides clearance for the movement of the portion 34 during the interval when the rollers 93 are causing the lever 48 to rotate. The rotative movement of the lever 48 through the connection provided by the notches 81 and the rounded surfaces 79 causes the carrier 50 to move downwardly along an axis perpendicular to the bottom wall 49 to a position wherein the contact surfaces 86 are separated from the contact portions 61 thereby placing the contacts in a circuit opening condition. Among the advantages achieved by the switch according to the present invention is the arrangement whereby the rollers 93 on the portion 34 rotate upon the cam surfaces 91 to thereby supply any manual force required to effect disengagement of the contact surfaces 86 from the contact portions 61 to break any welds that may have been formed between the contact portions 86 and 61.

The rotation of the handle 24 ceases when the rollers 93 move into engagement with the stop surfaces 92. It will be seen in FIG. 3 that when the components of the switch 10 are in the OFF or circuit opening position, the line of centers through the pivots 25 and the rollers 93 is substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall 49.

Thus as the handle 24 is resiliently held against a clockwise rotation by the toggle lever 40, the carrier 50 will be rigidly maintained against an upward movement to a contact closing position in event the switch 11 should be subjected to shock. Further, in the event of breakage of the toggle lever 40 orthe spring 37, the force provided by the springs 87 through the stop surface 92, the rollers 93 and the portion 34 will tend to maintain the carrier 50 in a contact opening position and the handle in its furthest counterclockwise position. Thus the switch as described will not only operate and provide the sensation that it is a toggle operated device, but additionally, a structure wherein in the event the contact surfaces are welded, manual force will be directly transmitted to the contact carrier to cause a separation of the contacts.

While certain preferred embodiments of the invention have been specifically disclosed, it is understood that the invention is not limited thereto, as many variations will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and the invention is to be given its broadest possible interpretation within the terms of the following claims.

What is claimed is 1. An electric switch having:

(a) an insulating base having a plurality of cavities,

(b) a set of cooperating fixed and movable contacts in each cavity,

() an insulating carrier supporting the movable contacts, said carrier being linearly movable along an axis with respect to the fixed contacts for moving the movable contacts from a first position wherein the movable contacts are separated from the fixed contacts to a second position wherein the movable contacts and fixed contacts are in engagement,

(d) resilient means constantly urging the carrier to the position wherein the contacts are in engagement,

(e) an actuating lever having a first end portion engaging the carrier and a second end portion pivoted on the base,

(f) a rotatable handle pivoted on the base,

(g) an actuating surface on the handle,

(h) a rotatable toggle. lever pivoted on the base,

(i) means connecting the handle and toggle lever for imparting movement of the handle to the toggle lever and for causing the handle to move with a snap action when the lever is moved from a first position past a central position toward a second position,

(j) and means including a cam surface and a stop surface on the actuating lever engaged by the actuating surface on the handle for imparting movement of the handle to the actuating lever when the handle is :moved from the first to the second position and for limiting movement of the handle beyond the second position.

2. The combination as recited in claim 1 wherein the actuating surface on the handle includes a roller mounted on the handle that engages the cam surface and stop surface on the actuating lever.

3. The combination as recited in claim 2 wherein an axis of the roller and an axis of the pivot for the handle are located in a centerline substantially aligned with the axis of movement of the carrier.

4. The combination as recited in claim 2 wherein a portion on the actuating lever is engaged by the toggle lever and provides a stop for limiting movement of the toggle when the handle is in the second position.

5. The combination as recited in claim 1 wherein the carrier is a unitary molded member having spaced portions extending into the cavities.

6. The combination as recited in claim 5 wherein the base provides .a means for guiding the linear movement of the carrier.

7. The combination as recited in claim 1 wherein the first end portion of the actuating lever engages the carrier and moves the carrier from the second position to the first position when the handle is moved from the first position to the second position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,065,357 12/1936 Von Hoorn 20068 2,813,951 11/1957 Kolb et a1. 200 124 X ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Primary Examiner.

D. SMITH, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN ELECTRIC SWITCH HAVING: (A) AN INSULATING BASE HAVING A PLURALITY OF CAVITIES, (B) A SET OF COOPERATING FIXED AND MOVABLE CONTACTS IN EACH CAVITY, (C) AN INSULATING CARRIER SUPPORTING THE MOVABLE CONTACTS, SAID CARRIER BEING LINEARLY MOVABLE ALONG AN AXIS WITH RESPECT TO THE FIXED CONTACTS FOR MOVING THE MOVABLE CONTACTS FROM A FIRST POSITION WHEREIN THE MOVABLE CONTACTS ARE SEPARATED FROM THE FIXED CONTACTS TO A SECOND POSITION WHEREIN THE MOVABLE CONTACTS AND FIXED CONTACTS ARE IN ENGAGEMENT, (D) RESILIENT MEANS CONSTANTLY URGING THE CARRIER TO THE POSITION WHEREIN THE CONTACTS ARE IN ENGAGEMENT, (E) AN ACTUATING LEVER HAVING A FIRST END PORTION ENGAGING THE CARRIER AND A SECOND END PORTION PIVOTED ON THE BASE, (F) A ROTATABLE HANDLE PIVOTED ON THE BASE, (G) AN ACTUATING SURFACE ON THE HANDLE, (H) A ROTATABLE TOGGLE LEVER PIVOTED ON THE BASE, (I) MEANS CONNECTING THE HANDLE AND TOGGLE LEVER FOR IMPARTING MOVEMENT OF THE HANDLE TO THE TOGGLE LEVER AND FOR CAUSING THE HANDLE TO MOVE WITH A SNAP ACTION WHEN THE LEVER IS MOVED FROM A FIRST POSITION PAST A CENTRAL POSITION TOWARD A SECOND POSITION, (J) AND MEANS INCLUDING A CAM SURFACE AND A STOP SURFACE ON THE ACTUATING LEVER ENGAGED BY THE ACTUATING SURFACE ON THE HANDLE FOR IMPARTING MOVEMENT OF THE HANDLE TO THE ACTUATING LEVER WHEN THE HANDLE IS MOVED FROM THE FIRST TO THE SECOND POSITION AND FOR LIMITING MOVEMENT OF THE HANDLE BEYOND THE SECOND POSITION. 